• In Which I Celebrate the Autumn Equinox

    This is a layered image. The main colors are blue, pale purple, and silvery gray. The background layer suggests a birch forest in autumn. Over that is an architectural image of a terrace or balcony with carved, pointed arches supported by columns. The windows or openings framed by the arches look out on vaguely medieval buildings. The whole image is layered with a scattering of stars. The image of a red tattered rose is layered over the central window opening and stars. In pale gray letters o the top third of the image is written, “Autumn Equinox. The Day the Kingdom Changed Forever.” Corner decorations in pale gray adorn the four corners of the image.

    The Autumn Equinox is an important date in Handsome and Hideous. Every year I not only greet with pleasure the coming of autumn in our world, but also remember the special day it is in Tamtir.

    What can I say? Authors are odd people.

    If you’ve read Handsome and Hideous, you know why the Equinox is particularly significant.

    If you haven’t and you’re curious? Find a copy here. Your library may also have access through Libby or Hoopla.

    May your autumn be filled with good things.

  • In Which I Say Thank You

    Me at the signing table at The Book Lounge. I am the smiling gray-haired lady with glasses sitting at the table in the center of the image. I am wearing a blue V-necked T-shirt and have a stack of pink post-ts and a black pen in front of me. On the wooden table are the display items for the signing. From left to right: a stack of four copies of my book, Handsome and Hideous, a cardboard display stand with the cover of Handsome and Hideous printed on it, a small black raven plushie, a clear acrylic pencil cup holding bookmarks with a design based on the book cover, a clear acrylic stand announcing my name, Maria Fox, the title of the book, and where to find me online, a clear acrylic business card holder with stickers based on the book cover, a copy of Handsome and Hideous on a black book easel, a clear acrylic stand displaying a brief book blurb and noting some book tropes, two copies of the book arranged vertically as though on a shelf, a clipboard with a sign-up sheet for my newsletter. In front of the book easel and blurb are two stacked copies of the book and a clear acrylic business card case with business cards. To the right and behind my display is a white taper in a glass stand and an arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath. To the left of the display is a pole with a fake vine and small lights twined about it. Behind me is the café and wine bar, consisting of a black marble counter, a display case of pastries, and a cash register. Bottles of wine are stacked in a wooden rack to the left of the counter. Beyond the wine rack one sees deeper into the store. A barista in a red shirt is helping a customer in a gray T-shirt at the café counter.

    Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello on Saturday at The Book Lounge! It was so much fun to meet and talk to readers.

    I confess I was a little worried I’d sit there for three hours while shelf-browsers avoided making eye contact, but fortunately that did not happen. I was surprised by the number of people who asked about the book, signed up for my newsletter, or bought a book. Even if people did not stop to chat, they smiled and nodded as they passed by.

    So thank you for a very happy author signing.

    This is my view of The Book Lounge from the signing table. At the bottom edge of the image are slices of a few of my display items, books, stands, and roses, and a bit of the wooden table they are on. Then there are elegant two striped armchairs in light wood next to a small dark round table. Behind that grouping is a grouping of three green velvet sofas, arranged in a U, with the back of one sofa to the viewer, the crossbar of the U against the left wall, and the second arm of the U facing the viewer. Two women are seated on the sofa that has its back to the viewer. They appear to be reading. Beyond the sofas is the main cash register, the counter of which is perpendicular to the viewer. Against the left wall behind the cash register is a collection of tote bags for sale. A bookseller is helping a customer at the register. Beyond the bookseller, one sees the front windows and glass door of the store. Red curtains adorn the window on the left, while the window on the right holds a rainbow-colored display of books. On the left side of the image extends the wall, which is black paneling from the floor to about four feet up. The top half of the wall is papered with textured yellow wallpaper and hung with a series of framed pictures and mirrors. The right side of the image is the right wall, which is floor-to-ceiling red bookshelves filled with books. White lettering above each section names the genre of books shelved below. There are two displays of non-book items of interest to readers. Two readers are perusing the shelves. The floor of the store, visible on the right, is tiled in large black and white squares. The ceiling is white, with a square, geometrical relief pattern. Two glass chandeliers light the store.

    Here’s my view from the signing table. Such a happy space.

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    Thanks also to The Book Lounge for being a generous sponsor of author events and a supporter of local and indie authors!

  • In Which I Remind You That I Have a Book Signing This Saturday

    Online flyer advertising author signing event. Most of the info is presented in a large maroon box. On the left in large pink letters: Signing event. Below that in smaller lettering: Meet + greet. On the upper right is a black and white headshot of the author with the caption Fantasy & Science Fiction Writer. The author has gray hair, glasses, and is smiling. Above the author photo is the store’s name, The Book Lounge. On the lower right is an image of the cover of the book Handsome and Hideous. Two tropes, written in cursive font and with arrows curving from them and pointing to the book cover, are noted: “Beauty & the Beast vibes” and “Prince x Sorceress.” On the lower right is “Maria Fox” in white lettering. Below the author’s name the event information is listed: Saturday, 08.22.2026, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Non-ticketed event. Below the main maroon box is a white space with the following text: Maria Fox: Author Signing! Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM, 631 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701.

    St. Pete friends, just a reminder I’ll be signing books at The Book Lounge on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 3! Please stop by and say hello, grab a coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy one of St. Pete’s awesome independent bookstores!

    Interior of bookstore. An entire wall is taken up with bookshelves, each eight shelves high, painted a deep red. The bookshelves are filled with books. Over each section is painted in white cursive letters the genre stocked below: Romantic Comedy, Historical Fiction, Dark Romance, and so on. A middle section of the bookshelves with a table in front of it offer board games, gifts, and other book-adjacent merchandise. There is a customer browsing the shelves. The ceiling is white in a bold sculptural geometrical pattern. The floor is large black and white squares. A large glass chandelier hangs near the left edge of the image. Paper hearts of red and pink dangle on ribbons attached to the ceiling. In the lower part of the picture comfortable green couches and chairs, a pair of upholstered cream ottomans, and a dark coffee table can be seen. At the very bottom of the image one can see a partial image of someone seated, reading a book with a glass of white wine on the table before them. The whole store is filled with sunlight coming from the out-of-shot window on the left.

    Inside The Book Lounge, facing a wall of books

    Interior of bookstore, facing the back of the store. The floor is tiled in large black and white squares. On the left edge of the image is a black wall, further to the right is a doorway with a sign above it that reads, More Books This Way. Over that sign is a standard Exit sign. Through the doorway one can glimpse more bookshelves filled with books and a rack of pink shirts, presumably store merch. At the very back wall is a picture of a woman or woman-shaped fantasy creature. To the right of the doorway extends the coffee and wine bar. The back wall and cabinets are pink. Yellow racks holding flowers and wine bottles are up high on the pink wall. On the black-topped counter are coffee makers and coffee mugs. A woman with dark hair wearing a black shirt and blue jeans is turned away from the viewer, making a coffee at one of the machines. To the right of her are more coffee-making items and a stainless-steel sink. In front of the counter, the woman, and the sink is a display case of pastries and a cash register. Menus are displayed on top of the case. The wall all the way to the left is yellow and has several framed print and image items. The effect is cheerful, welcoming, and friendly.

    Get yourself a coffee or some wine…and wander through the door that promises More Books This Way

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    I hope to see you there!

  • In Which a Local Author Invites You to an Event

    Online flyer advertising author signing event. Most of the info is presented in a large maroon box. On the left in large pink letters: Signing event. Below that in smaller lettering: Meet + greet. On the upper right is a black and white headshot of the author with the caption Fantasy & Science Fiction Writer. The author has gray hair, glasses, and is smiling. Above the author photo is the store’s name, The Book Lounge. On the lower right is an image of the cover of the book Handsome and Hideous. Two tropes, written in cursive font and with arrows curving from them and pointing to the book cover, are noted: “Beauty & the Beast vibes” and “Prince x Sorceress.” On the lower right is “Maria Fox” in white lettering. Below the author’s name the event information is listed: Saturday, 08.22.2026, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Non-ticketed event. Below the main maroon box is a white space with the following text: Maria Fox: Author Signing! Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM, 631 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701.

    I’m thrilled to be signing books at The Book Lounge on Central Avenue in St. Pete on Saturday, August 22, from noon to 3! Please stop by and say hello, grab a coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy the fantastic book selection and the comfy seating.

    Interior of bookstore. An entire wall is taken up with bookshelves, each eight shelves high, painted a deep red. The bookshelves are filled with books. Over each section is painted in white cursive letters the genre stocked below: Romantic Comedy, Historical Fiction, Dark Romance, and so on. A middle section of the bookshelves with a table in front of it offer board games, gifts, and other book-adjacent merchandise. There is a customer browsing the shelves. The ceiling is white in a bold sculptural geometrical pattern. The floor is large black and white squares. A large glass chandelier hangs near the left edge of the image. Paper hearts of red and pink dangle on ribbons attached to the ceiling. In the lower part of the picture comfortable green couches and chairs, a pair of upholstered cream ottomans, and a dark coffee table can be seen. At the very bottom of the image one can see a partial image of someone seated, reading a book with a glass of white wine on the table before them. The whole store is filled with sunlight coming from the out-of-shot window on the left.

    As you can see, The Book Lounge is a delightful space. We are fortunate in to have it among several wonderful independent bookstores in the Tampa Bay area.

    Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

    Hope to see you there!

  • In Which Handsome and Hideous Celebrates Its Paperback Book Birthday

    The paperback edition set among foliage. Both the small green leaves of the shrub and the cover of the book are sun-dappled. The central image is the book cover for Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox. The main color is dark blue with pinpoint white stars. There is a crumbling octagonal tower in the background, circled by flying ravens. Over that image is a tattered red rose attached to black thorns. The title and author’s name are in silver, as are the decorative motifs in the corners.

    It seems incredible that it’s been a year since Handsome and Hideous first appeared in paperback! Since then, it’s appeared on the shelf at my public library, it’s stocked at my local bookstore, The Book Lounge, and it will soon be stocked at my local used bookstore, The Book Rescuers.

    Big shout out to independent bookstores who support local and indie authors! Big shout out to libraries for making stories and resources available to all! Big shout out to readers who try out less well-known authors! You are all part of making writers’ dreams come true.

    Happy print birthday, Handsome and Hideous.

    Handsome and Hideous is available from the usual vendors (including independent stores) in both e-book and paperback.

  • In Which Handsome and Hideous Celebrates a Book Birthday

    Image features the book cover on the left and copy in red on the right on a light gray background. At the bottom and top of the image are centered decorative elements in red. The title and author’s name on the book cover for Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox are in silver, as are the decorative motifs in the corners. The main color is dark blue with pinpoint white stars. There is a crumbling octagonal tower in the background, circled by flying ravens. Over that image is a tattered red rose attached to black thorns. Red-letter copy reads, “A sorceress banished at birth…A prince desperate to save his dying mother…A stealthy enemy determined to destroy them both…Breaking the curse may be the easy part.”

    Real Life has been keeping me pretty busy this year, but I couldn’t let the anniversary of the first public appearance of Handsome and Hideous slip by unmarked. On this date a year ago, I pressed the “publish” button, half exhilarated and half terrified.

    Handsome and Hideous was out in the world at last!

    It was thrilling to go to the various e-book vendors’ sites and look up Handsome and Hideous and see it pop up. It’s still pretty delightful.

    In the past twelve months, H&H has joined the collection of my local public library. It’s available globally in both e-book and paperback, and currently sits on the shelf at The Book Lounge bookstore. Readers have been kind enough to let me know they’ve enjoyed it.

    Happy birthday, Handsome and Hideous! May you continue to find readers for years to come!

    (Naturally, I will note the book birthday of the print edition in a couple of months. Why pass up an excuse for celebration?)

  • In Which Handsome and Hideous Is on a Bookstore Shelf

    First, friends, let me apologize for being AWOL for a while! Real Life has been pretty hectic the past few months, both with joyful events and challenging ones. And of course national (USA) events have been turbulent. I’ve been trying to embrace the joy and rise to the challenges.

    One joy is a new bookstore in my area, The Book Lounge. It prominently features romance (several subgenres) a well as other fiction and provides a great place to hang out as well: comfy seating, coffee, lots of books to browse.

    They are excited to support local and indie authors. I’m pleased and proud that they have agreed to stock Handsome and Hideous in their Indie Authors section.

    If you’re in the St. Pete area, definitely check them out!

    The Book Lounge at 631 Central Avenue in St. Pete
    Bookshelf inside the store with Handsome and Hideous displayed. The shelves are red. In the center is a copy of Handsome and Hideous, set in a clear plastic stand, face out. The cover has an oval “Autographed Copy” sticker. To the left are two more copies, shelved with the spines out. Other books are also on the same shelf, as well as on shelves above and below.
    Handsome and Hideous on the shelf at The Book Lounge
    Me inside bookstore standing in front of bookshelf and holding a copy of Handsome and Hideous. The cover has an oval “Autographed Copy” sticker. Two red bookshelves are visible behind me, filled with books shelved face-out and spine-out. I am a white woman with dark-framed glasses and gray hair that is pulled back out of my face. I am wearing a red and brown flannel shirt over a brown V-neck shirt and blue jeans. Two more copies of Handsome and Hideous can be seen on the shelf behind me, over my left shoulder. I am smiling.
    Proud author holding Handsome and Hideous in The Book Lounge

  • In Which I Open a Box of Author’s Copies

    I’m not going to lie, it was pretty thrilling to open the box of author’s copies I ordered! You can order your own hard copy (or e-book) here.

    Seen from above. A large opened cardboard box containing trade paperback copies of Handsome and Hideous. Six copies are visible, with one copy pulled out of its packing place and set at an angle on top of the others. Along the top of the image bits of white rug and dark wood floor are visible.

  • I’m on Sci-Fi & Sunshine with Bria Burton!

    I was thrilled to appear on the podcast of my friend and fellow writer Bria Burton this week. Check out episode 22 of Sci-Fi & Sunshine on YouTube! We talk about AI, local bookstores, the writing process (we’re both gardeners/pantsers), and of course, Handsome and Hideous. I share a map of the kingdom of Tamtir that I drew while writing and several mixed media pieces I made (and rejected!) while figuring out the cover design.

    Bria and I have been in the same critique group for years. Check out her books, podcast, and more at https://www.briaburton.com/ !

  • Universal Book Link for Handsome and Hideous now offers both e-book and paperback vendors

    Blog banner using the images from the book cover of Handsome and Hideous. In the background, the stone octagonal castle left-center, the tattered red rose to the right, supported by a tangle of black thorns, and a starry dark blue night sky over castle, rose, and thorns. To the left are foregrounded images of the paperback edition, turned to show a bit of the spine, and a color tablet displaying the book cover. To the right in white letters is written, Handsome and Hideous by Maria Fox is now available in e-book and paperback! Vendors: https://books2read.com/u/bzx7o2. MariaFoxWriter.com. In the lower left corner and upper right corner are corner decorations in light purple.

    Just a quick post to let you know that I’ve updated the UBL for Handsome and Hideous to connect to both e-book and print sellers (clicking the link takes you to the URL given in the image above).

    Here’s a quick list of the vendor links available when you click here:

    E-book:

    • Kobo
    • Nook
    • Apple Books
    • Google Play
    • Smashwords
    • Kindle
    • Indigo
    • OverDrive (Libby)
    • Angus & Robertson
    • Thalia
    • Vivlio
    • Palace Marketplace
    • Fable
    • Casa del Libro
    • Beucher.de
    • FNAC
    • bol.de
    • Hugendubel
    • bol.com
    • ebook.de
    • Gandhi
    • Walmart (I’m trying to get this moved to the print list, since that’s the format the link offers, but I have not yet succeeded)
    • Booktopia

    Paperback:

    • Barnes & Noble
    • Bookshop
    • Books-A-Million
    • Amazon
    • Angus & Robertson
    • Foyles
    • Thalia
    • Hugendubel
    • Blackwell’s
    • Waterstones

    I think you can see why I’m using a Universal Book Link (provided and maintained by the fine folks at Books2Read). It’s a lot of links to create and disseminate individually.

    Books2Read keeps the lists updated and I also search for new listings every few weeks, so keep checking if you don’t see your favorite.

    Happy reading!

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